- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 4,407
For cut-to-length, I'd suggest using a piece of paper or thin cardboard, at least 6" wide and a bit over 1 meter long (ie, circumference of the pipe, plus some overlap). File folders are good for this. Wrap it around the pipe, aligning the beginning and end of one edge, and use that edge to mark the pipe.
+1 for Rich's suggestion about using angle iron to lay out any lengthwise cuts.
As for sawing the pipe, I've discovered that a Japanese-style "pull saw" is absolutely the cat's meow for PVC. Because there's no "set" to the teeth, the cut is a lot less ragged than you'd get with a hacksaw. The kerf is narrower, too, and the cut-on-pull action works very nicely. Whenever I have to do PVC plumbing around the house, etc., a small pull saw is always in my tool pouch. I got mine at Lowes, as part of a set (hacksaw blade, Sawzall-type blade, and ~4 1/2" pull saw blade, with handle). You may want to get a slightly larger saw for your big pipe, though they can be expensive, and a small can do the job.
If you have a jig saw (as Mike Nash suggests), I'd recommend getting a hollow-ground style blade. Again, with no set to the teeth, the cut will be very smooth. I absolutely love my Bosch jig saw, and often use the T101AO blades for PVC and other plastics.
+1 for Rich's suggestion about using angle iron to lay out any lengthwise cuts.
As for sawing the pipe, I've discovered that a Japanese-style "pull saw" is absolutely the cat's meow for PVC. Because there's no "set" to the teeth, the cut is a lot less ragged than you'd get with a hacksaw. The kerf is narrower, too, and the cut-on-pull action works very nicely. Whenever I have to do PVC plumbing around the house, etc., a small pull saw is always in my tool pouch. I got mine at Lowes, as part of a set (hacksaw blade, Sawzall-type blade, and ~4 1/2" pull saw blade, with handle). You may want to get a slightly larger saw for your big pipe, though they can be expensive, and a small can do the job.
If you have a jig saw (as Mike Nash suggests), I'd recommend getting a hollow-ground style blade. Again, with no set to the teeth, the cut will be very smooth. I absolutely love my Bosch jig saw, and often use the T101AO blades for PVC and other plastics.